NCT06700278

Auricular Acupressure and Limb Massage for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury

Effect of Auricular Acupressure and Peripheral Limb Acupoint Massage on Neuropathic Pain, Activities of Daily Living and Quality of Life in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial included 90 patients with spinal cord injury, divided into an experimental group and a control group (45 each). The experimental group received auricular acupressure alongside rehabilitation therapy, while the control group received body acupoint massage alongside rehabilitation therapy. The intervention targeted specific auricular and body acupoints, performed three times daily, five days a week, for three weeks.

Detailed description

This study is a randomized controlled trial conducted in the rehabilitation ward of National Taiwan University Hospital, using a convenience sampling method. A total of 90 spinal cord injury patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=45) or the control group (n=45). The experimental group will receive auricular acupressure in addition to rehabilitation therapy. The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a). The control group will receive body acupoint massage in addition to rehabilitation therapy. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36). Both groups will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	auricular acupressure	auricular acupressure was performed three times daily, with each acupoint massaged for three minutes at an optimal pressure level that induced sensations of soreness, numbness, distension, or mild pain. This was conducted five days a week for three weeks, in addition to regular rehabilitation therapy provided five days per week.The selected auricular acupoints include Shenmen (TF4), Subcortex (AT1), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a).
BEHAVIORAL	body acupoint massage	The control group will receive acupoint massage three times daily, with each acupoint being massaged for three minutes. The applied pressure will be adjusted to induce sensations of soreness, numbness, fullness, or mild pain. The intervention will be conducted five days per week for a total of three weeks. The selected body acupoints include Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zusanli (ST36).

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2024-11-21
• Last updated: 2025-02-26